The Who We Are update: Week 24

Wednesday May 9, 2007 04:08 PM

Who We Are

This forum is now a heritage item - worth studying but no longer current. For the latest on Australian attitudes and media trends, go to blogs.sunherald.com.au/whoweare.
To discuss the Most Memorable Moments in Australian television, and whether The Chaser is one of them, go to The Tribal Mind.
To learn how Hollywood finally discovered Australia, go to Who We Are.

The ratings race, updated 10 am Monday
At the moment, the commercial stations are closer in audience share than they have been in years. Thanks mainly to Masterchef, Channel Ten averaged 24.5 per cent of the prime time audience last week, while Nine got 25.5 and Seven got 27.6 (ABC 17.4, SBS 5.0). That's a portrait of how the year will proceed: Seven static, Nine continuing its slow decline, and Ten booming (but not quite enough to knock Nine off No. 2 spot).

This was Pay TV's account of itself: "In week 24, FOX Sports' coverage of Live: Football: World Cup Qualifier Aust v Bahrain helped STV become the number one source of television across Australia for the eleventh week in a row. STV channels accounted for 22.9% of all metropolitan viewing between 6am and midnight, were 22.4% of all regional viewing and 59.3% of all viewing in subscription TV homes.

"The Socceroos match, which the Australian team won 2-0, was watched by 326,000 people on Wednesday night. In other sport, Live: NRL Titans v Dragons was seen by 315,000 people and Live: AFL West Coast v Geelong had 198,000 viewers. Live: Tennis: French Open Men's Final, in which Roger Federer finally achieved his goal of winning the clay court competition and matching Pete Sampras' open record, was watched by 132,000 people (all on FOX Sports).

"On Tuesday night on FOX8, Australia's Next Top Model had its best result of the current season with 234,000 viewers at 7.30pm while the new Joss Whedon show Dollhouse premiered at 8.30pm with 120,000 viewers. TV1's Cash Trivia Challenge achieved a year-to-date biggest audience with 96,000 people as did Eastenders on UKTV with 93,000 viewers and Cold Case on W with 89,000 viewers. Destroyed in Seconds on Discovery channel was watched by 74,000 people, Secret Millionaire on Lifestyle had an audience of 70,000 people and 67,000 subscribers saw Blue's Clues on Nick Jr."

What Australia watched, week ending June 14
Description Total Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth
1 SEVEN NEWS - SUN Seven 1,767,000 482,000 467,000 376,000 177,000 265,000
2 SEVEN NEWS Seven 1,690,000 488,000 446,000 332,000 184,000 241,000
3 TALKIN' 'BOUT YOUR GENERATION Ten 1,647,000 465,000 552,000 254,000 165,000 210,000
4 NCIS RPT Ten 1,564,000 398,000 460,000 299,000 170,000 236,000
5 SEVEN NEWS - SAT Seven 1,558,000 422,000 478,000 333,000 174,000 151,000
6 THANK GOD YOU'RE HERE Seven 1,531,000 430,000 500,000 295,000 137,000 170,000
7 TODAY TONIGHT Seven 1,482,000 406,000 404,000 306,000 164,000 201,000
8 MASTERCHEF AUSTRALIA Ten 1,474,000 427,000 485,000 223,000 168,000 171,000
9 THE ZOO Seven 1,470,000 445,000 440,000 265,000 153,000 168,000
10 SPICKS AND SPECKS ABC1 1,447,000 461,000 435,000 244,000 142,000 164,000
11 MASTERCHEF AUSTRALIA - CHALLENGE Ten 1,427,000 381,000 470,000 205,000 165,000 206,000
12 NINE NEWS SUNDAY Nine 1,407,000 392,000 492,000 229,000 165,000 129,000
13 RPA Nine 1,375,000 415,000 404,000 276,000 143,000 137,000
14 GETAWAY Nine 1,374,000 348,000 446,000 292,000 136,000 152,000
15 FIND MY FAMILY Seven 1,370,000 414,000 416,000 225,000 141,000 175,000
16 BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS Seven 1,362,000 421,000 370,000 209,000 181,000 181,000
Continued here

17 TWO AND A HALF MEN Nine 1,360,000 360,000 456,000 271,000 119,000 154,000
18 SEA PATROL Nine 1,355,000 405,000 392,000 238,000 155,000 166,000
19 A CURRENT AFFAIR Nine 1,325,000 395,000 434,000 254,000 124,000 118,000
20 NINE NEWS Nine 1,320,000 376,000 437,000 258,000 127,000 123,000
21 NCIS EP 2 RPT Ten 1,311,000 303,000 422,000 244,000 153,000 189,000
22 NINE NEWS SATURDAY Nine 1,303,000 379,000 413,000 265,000 161,000 87,000
23 RECRUITS Ten 1,288,000 486,000 321,000 201,000 123,000 156,000
24 CRIMINAL MINDS Seven 1,287,000 360,000 383,000 254,000 140,000 151,000
25 DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES Seven 1,287,000 392,000 410,000 232,000 107,000 146,000
26 SUNDAY NIGHT Seven 1,273,000 365,000 322,000 253,000 156,000 178,000
27 NEW TRICKS ABC1 1,271,000 377,000 344,000 238,000 155,000 157,000
28 HOT SEAT - $1M EPISODE Nine 1,244,000 317,000 463,000 210,000 120,000 135,000
29 MERLIN Ten 1,231,000 337,000 333,000 235,000 122,000 204,000
30 ALL SAINTS Seven 1,225,000 391,000 377,000 168,000 141,000 147,000
31 SCRUBS - MON Seven 1,189,000 296,000 392,000 244,000 127,000 130,000
32 GREY'S ANATOMY Seven 1,174,000 341,000 354,000 245,000 120,000 114,000
33 20 TO 1 Nine 1,164,000 302,000 397,000 201,000 114,000 149,000
34 TWO AND A HALF MEN -RPT Nine 1,159,000 322,000 362,000 242,000 112,000 122,000
35 HOME AND AWAY Seven 1,150,000 345,000 310,000 216,000 135,000 145,000
36 TWO AND A HALF MEN -EP1 Nine 1,134,000 326,000 396,000 202,000 97,000 112,000
37 BONES Seven 1,122,000 335,000 293,000 213,000 129,000 153,000
38 60 MINUTES Nine 1,119,000 311,000 379,000 222,000 83,000 123,000
39 AUSTRALIA'S FUNNIEST HOME VIDEOS Nine 1,117,000 346,000 298,000 247,000 119,000 108,000
40 GHOST WHISPERER Seven 1,111,000 334,000 307,000 221,000 130,000 119,000
(OzTAM mainland capitals)

What Australia watched, Saturday
Description Total Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth
1 SEVEN NEWS - SAT Seven 1,558,000 422,000 478,000 333,000 174,000 151,000
2 NINE NEWS SATURDAY Nine 1,303,000 379,000 413,000 265,000 161,000 87,000
3 NEW TRICKS ABC1 1,271,000 377,000 344,000 238,000 155,000 157,000
4 AUSTRALIA'S FUNNIEST HOME VIDEOS Nine 1,117,000 346,000 298,000 247,000 119,000 108,000
5 ABC NEWS-SA ABC1 1,071,000 349,000 326,000 209,000 110,000 76,000
6 ABC NEWS UP-DATE ABC1 924,000 306,000 223,000 165,000 99,000 130,000
7 THE BILL ABC1 878,000 288,000 244,000 136,000 96,000 114,000
8 SATURDAY NIGHT AFL Ten 865,000 430,000 60,000 151,000 225,000
25 SEVEN'S R.U: AUS V ITALY Seven 373,000 203,000 17,000 138,000 8,000 6,000
36 BOWLS: PERTH INTERNATIONAL 2009-PM ABC1 259,000 72,000 79,000 61,000 34,000 12,000
101 2009 ICC WORLD TWENTY20 CRICKET Nine 74,000 14,000 31,000 12,000 8,000 9,000
102 RUGBY UNION: SHUTE SHIELD (NSW) 2009-PM ABC1 71,000 71,000
103 VFL FOOTBALL 2009-PM ABC1 70,000 70,000
112 NBA BASKETBALL FINALS ONE 52,000 1,000 23,000 9,000 11,000 9,000
118 RUGBY LEAGUE: (QLD) 2009-PM ABC1 43,000 43,000
123 THE SANFL-PM ABC1 40,000 40,000
153 WAFL LIVE LEAGUE FOOTBALL 2009-PM ABC1 27,000 27,000
169 SEVEN'S AFL: RND 12: CARLTON VS ST KILDA Seven 19,000 15,000 4,000
176 SATURDAY LATE NIGHT AFL Ten 15,000 15,000

What Australia watched, Friday
Description Total Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth
1 SEVEN NEWS Seven 1,564,000 496,000 342,000 320,000 173,000 234,000
2 TODAY TONIGHT Seven 1,364,000 407,000 334,000 270,000 159,000 194,000
3 BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS Seven 1,362,000 421,000 370,000 209,000 181,000 181,000
4 MASTERCHEF AUSTRALIA Ten 1,246,000 380,000 412,000 177,000 127,000 150,000
5 NINE NEWS Nine 1,207,000 306,000 395,000 258,000 110,000 138,000
6 A CURRENT AFFAIR Nine 1,151,000 286,000 380,000 267,000 116,000 102,000
7 SILENT WITNESS ABC1 1,056,000 330,000 297,000 168,000 104,000 158,000
12 SEVEN'S AFL: RND 12: CARLTON VS ST KILDA Seven 920,000 29,000 553,000 13,000 177,000 149,000
17 NINE'S LIVE FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL Nine 704,000 364,000 340,000
36 THE PERFECT VAGINA SBS 345,000 120,000 84,000 65,000 42,000 34,000
37 NINE'S FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL Nine 330,000 215,000 Not shown 114,000 Not shown Not shown
122 POKER: EUROPEAN TOUR ONE 63,000 13,000 21,000 6,000 12,000 11,000
147 NINE'S FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL LATE Nine 45,000 Not shown 30,000 Not shown 15,000 Not shown
157 BOXING: KO TV CLASSIC ONE 39,000 1,000 24,000 6,000 7,000 2,000
175 DRAG RACING: ANDRA CHAMPIONSHIP 2009 RPT ONE 29,000 7,000 2,000 8,000 11,000 2,000
205 2009 ICC WORLD TWENTY20 CRICKET Nine 15,000 7,000 8,000
208 MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL LIVE ONE 14,000 2,000 8,000 0 3,000 1,000

What Australia watched, Thursday
Description Total Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth
1 SEVEN NEWS Seven 1,596,000 453,000 413,000 322,000 169,000 239,000
2 TODAY TONIGHT Seven 1,491,000 395,000 420,000 303,000 166,000 207,000
3 GETAWAY Nine 1,369,000 345,000 445,000 293,000 136,000 150,000
4 MASTERCHEF AUSTRALIA Ten 1,323,000 395,000 419,000 172,000 164,000 172,000
5 NINE NEWS Nine 1,263,000 347,000 418,000 270,000 109,000 118,000
6 A CURRENT AFFAIR Nine 1,230,000 351,000 389,000 252,000 119,000 119,000
7 GREY'S ANATOMY Seven 1,174,000 341,000 354,000 245,000 120,000 114,000
8 20 TO 1 Nine 1,159,000 301,000 393,000 203,000 114,000 147,000
13 THE FOOTY SHOW Nine 1,013,000 230,000 411,000 140,000 110,000 122,000
19 DEAL OR NO DEAL Seven 846,000 248,000 261,000 163,000 85,000 89,000
23 THE ASCENT OF MONEY ABC1 809,000 277,000 205,000 148,000 77,000 102,000
26 HOT SEAT Nine 635,000 165,000 252,000 97,000 64,000 57,000
35 SUNRISE Seven 375,000 102,000 98,000 91,000 33,000 51,000
37 INSPECTOR REX RPT SBS 354,000 112,000 106,000 60,000 33,000 44,000
41 TODAY Nine 303,000 102,000 95,000 64,000 20,000 23,000
52 MAD MEN SBS 231,000 102,000 59,000 30,000 19,000 20,000
77 THE ELLEN DEGENERES SHOW Nine 159,000 38,000 52,000 19,000 25,000 25,000
88 MORNINGS WITH KERRI-ANNE Nine 133,000 49,000 52,000 18,000 7,000 8,000

What Australia watched, Wednesday
Description Total Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth
1 SEVEN NEWS Seven 1,667,000 471,000 468,000 303,000 181,000 244,000
2 THANK GOD YOU'RE HERE Seven 1,531,000 430,000 500,000 295,000 137,000 170,000
3 MASTERCHEF AUSTRALIA Ten 1,509,000 411,000 508,000 244,000 169,000 177,000
4 TODAY TONIGHT Seven 1,436,000 381,000 393,000 318,000 153,000 192,000
5 SPICKS AND SPECKS ABC1 1,426,000 456,000 427,000 240,000 140,000 162,000
6 NINE NEWS Nine 1,380,000 380,000 504,000 233,000 143,000 120,000
7 RPA Nine 1,374,000 415,000 404,000 275,000 143,000 138,000
8 A CURRENT AFFAIR Nine 1,356,000 435,000 435,000 238,000 124,000 124,000
9 CRIMINAL MINDS Seven 1,287,000 360,000 383,000 254,000 140,000 151,000
18 DEAL OR NO DEAL Seven 903,000 274,000 262,000 164,000 88,000 114,000
28 TRACEY ULLMAN'S STATE OF THE UNION ABC1 696,000 190,000 231,000 120,000 70,000 85,000
29 HOT SEAT Nine 677,000 206,000 246,000 82,000 79,000 64,000
57 PRISON BREAK Seven 226,000 51,000 87,000 30,000 34,000 24,000
88 MORNINGS WITH KERRI-ANNE Nine 152,000 64,000 47,000 27,000 4,000 10,000
89 NEW IDEA TV Seven 152,000 47,000 50,000 30,000 12,000 13,000
The ratings race, updated 6pm Wednesday
This just in from the ABC publicity dept: "ABC Managing Director Mark Scott today announced Amanda Duthie has been removed as the Head of ABC TV Comedy. The decision, made with the ABC's Director of Television, Kim Dalton, followed a review of the processes which led to the screening of the Chaser "Make A Realistic Wish" segment last week.

"The segment should not have been broadcast. We recognise that it caused unnecessary and unreasonable hurt and offence to our viewers and the broader community and we have apologised for this," Mr Scott said. "We have determined this was not a breakdown in our Editorial Policy processes but rather an error of judgement."

Mr Scott said the processes are clear and amply set out in the ABC's Editorial Policies. "Where staff are concerned about the potential for satirical material to cause harm they should refer the matter to the next level of management. In this instance, the Head of Arts, Entertainment and Comedy reviewed the segment and did not refer it up. This was an error of judgement."

ABC TV's Executive Head of Content Creation, Courtney Gibson, will assume direct responsibility for comedy programs until a new Head of Comedy is appointed. Amanda will continue to be responsible for Arts and Entertainment programs."

What Australia watched, Tuesday
Description Total Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth
1 SEVEN NEWS Seven 1,668,000 463,000 453,000 340,000 188,000 224,000
2 TALKIN' 'BOUT YOUR GENERATION Ten 1,655,000 467,000 554,000 256,000 166,000 212,000
3 NCIS RPT Ten 1,559,000 395,000 459,000 299,000 170,000 235,000
4 THE ZOO Seven 1,470,000 446,000 440,000 264,000 152,000 168,000
5 A CURRENT AFFAIR Nine 1,457,000 434,000 516,000 259,000 124,000 124,000
6 TODAY TONIGHT Seven 1,409,000 379,000 379,000 301,000 149,000 200,000
7 FIND MY FAMILY Seven 1,370,000 414,000 415,000 225,000 141,000 176,000
8 MASTERCHEF AUSTRALIA Ten 1,357,000 393,000 449,000 204,000 157,000 154,000
9 NINE NEWS Nine 1,322,000 388,000 440,000 256,000 120,000 118,000
10 NCIS EP 2 RPT Ten 1,300,000 301,000 418,000 242,000 152,000 187,000
59 KITCHEN NIGHTMARES U.S.A. Nine 224,000 Not shown 224,000 Not shown Not shown Not shown
76 HELL'S KITCHEN Nine 174,000 Not shown 174,000 Not shown Not shown Not shown

The ratings race, updated 10am Tuesday
There was a HUGE amount of tellyviewing last night. Every program was up at least 100,000 on its usual score. At home for the monarch's birthday, urban Australians parked themselves in front of the box at 5pm and gave record audiences to Eddie McGuire's Hot Seat AND Andrew O'Keefe's Deal Or No Deal AND TEN'S early news, and then distributed themselves evenly among all the Monday evening fare.

The Scrubs finale would have had more than a million viewers, but apparently Melbourne saw a different episode, so it's listed separately.

By 10 pm they'd exhausted themselves, so audiences for Flight of The Conchords and 30 Rock were surprisingly low. We have no way of measuring yet how many recorded those shows for later viewing (OzTAM won't start reporting those results till next year).

At this point in the week, Seven has 26.6 per cent of the prime time audience, Ten has 26.1, Nine has 25.5, ABC has 16.5 and SBS has 5.2. So everybody's happy.

What Australia watched, Monday
Description Total Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth
1 SEVEN NEWS Seven 1,957,000 560,000 552,000 373,000 211,000 261,000
2 MASTERCHEF AUSTRALIA Ten 1,802,000 522,000 587,000 281,000 216,000 195,000
3 TODAY TONIGHT Seven 1,699,000 468,000 488,000 335,000 194,000 214,000
4 A CURRENT AFFAIR Nine 1,465,000 479,000 463,000 258,000 140,000 125,000
5 NINE NEWS Nine 1,401,000 459,000 414,000 268,000 144,000 117,000
6 SEA PATROL Nine 1,366,000 403,000 398,000 237,000 157,000 171,000
7 TWO AND A HALF MEN Nine 1,355,000 360,000 454,000 269,000 119,000 154,000
8 DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES Seven 1,287,000 392,000 410,000 232,000 107,000 146,000
9 HOME AND AWAY Seven 1,268,000 391,000 346,000 226,000 157,000 148,000
10 RECRUITS Ten 1,265,000 473,000 316,000 199,000 122,000 154,000
11 HOT SEAT - $1M EPISODE Nine 1,224,000 318,000 458,000 209,000 112,000 127,000
13 TEN NEWS AT FIVE Ten 1,167,000 306,000 383,000 187,000 158,000 132,000
14 DEAL OR NO DEAL Seven 1,075,000 330,000 341,000 173,000 121,000 110,000
15 GOOD NEWS WEEK Ten 1,065,000 325,000 305,000 179,000 124,000 132,000
25 HOT SEAT Nine 812,000 285,000 267,000 124,000 65,000 71,000
26 SCRUBS - MON Seven 798,000 296,000 245,000 127,000 130,000
27 MONDAY AFTERNOON AFL Ten 774,000 90,000 471,000 57,000 120,000 38,000
29 SUPERNATURAL Ten 701,000 187,000 210,000 143,000 79,000 82,000
32 TOP GEAR AUSTRALIA SBS 545,000 165,000 164,000 101,000 53,000 62,000
37 SCRUBS-MON Seven 392,000 392,000
43 SUNRISE Seven 314,000 105,000 54,000 75,000 23,000 57,000
50 FLIGHT OF THE CONCHORDS SBS 275,000 93,000 75,000 44,000 21,000 42,000
51 NEW IDEA TV Seven 275,000 89,000 79,000 64,000 27,000 15,000
53 TODAY Nine 252,000 90,000 69,000 61,000 10,000 21,000
68 30 ROCK Seven 196,000 69,000 72,000 15,000 20,000 21,000
(OzTAM preliminary estimates, mainland capitals)

What Australia watched, Sunday
Description Total Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth
1 SEVEN NEWS - SUN Seven 1,767,000 482,000 467,000 376,000 177,000 265,000
2 MASTERCHEF AUSTRALIA - CHALLENGE Ten 1,427,000 381,000 470,000 205,000 165,000 206,000
3 NINE NEWS SUNDAY Nine 1,406,000 392,000 491,000 229,000 166,000 129,000
4 SUNDAY NIGHT Seven 1,275,000 365,000 323,000 253,000 156,000 178,000
5 MERLIN Ten 1,231,000 337,000 333,000 235,000 122,000 204,000
6 60 MINUTES Nine 1,122,000 309,000 380,000 225,000 83,000 126,000
7 BONES Seven 1,122,000 334,000 293,000 213,000 129,000 154,000
8 THE FORCE - BEHIND THE LINE Seven 1,098,000 328,000 250,000 215,000 128,000 177,000
9 BORDER SECURITY USA Seven 1,079,000 337,000 253,000 207,000 126,000 156,000
10 ROVE Ten 1,065,000 277,000 367,000 174,000 97,000 149,000
11 HOME MADE Nine 967,000 262,000 318,000 185,000 92,000 111,000
12 CASTLE Seven 908,000 244,000 277,000 163,000 104,000 120,000
13 ABC NEWS-SUN ABC1 850,000 287,000 258,000 122,000 81,000 101,000
14 BALLET SHOES ABC1 822,000 256,000 246,000 107,000 84,000 130,000
15 CSI Nine 809,000 220,000 258,000 139,000 107,000 86,000
21 SEVEN'S AFL: RND 11: HAWTHORN VS SYDNEY Seven 560,000 93,000 305,000 41,000 116,000 5,000
26 NINE'S SUNDAY FOOTBALL Nine 467,000 282,000 177,000 8,000
50 AFL GAME DAY Seven 205,000 148,000 21,000 35,000
74 SEVEN'S AFL: RND 11: WEST COAST VS GEELONG Seven 140,000 140,000
79 SEVEN'S AFL: RND 11: ESSENDON VS ADELAIDE Seven 126,000 126,000

David Dale is the author of Who We Are -- A snapshot of Australia today (Allen and Unwin). For daily updates on Australian attitudes, bookmark http://blogs.sunherald.com.au/whoweare.

COMMENTS

I watched the Scrubs finale on Saturday night - I had recorded the first part of it from Seven last week, then couldn't wait until Monday, so I found it on Youtube. I just loved loved loved it - very emotional. From the part when Carla said "I'll miss you Bambi" (Judy Reyes is a great actress - when it comes to the subtle yet really emotional moments, nobody is better!) I just started crying and didn't stop until it was over. I think they did an amazing job - and then showing the outtakes and the final moments of filming -very emotional. Loved loved loved it. Does anybody know what will be in the timeslot now? Will they now repeat a series of Scrubs, or bring in something different?
I didn't watch, but recorded Ballet Shoes - as a child, I absolutely adored that book - the three sisters were some of my favourite literary characters - I was into ballet and drama when I was younger so it was such an important book for me. A bit of a weird timeslot though - 8:30pm, even if it was a public holiday, is too late for a number of the target audience.

by Beckala on June 08, 2009 at 07:47 PM

Some questions about digital. Why doesn't SBS1 broadcast on channel 31? Wouldn't it make more sense than 33 & 34? SBS need to line them up like ABC have with 20-ABC HD , 21-ABC1, 22-ABC2, 23-ABC3. We need to have 30-SBS HD, 31-SBS1, 32-SBS2 etc.
Does the government provide funding for the indigenous NITV channel on 40? Wouldn't it make more sense to share resources with SBS and make this channel SBS3? It could also have a better broadcast quality if it wasn't in the datacasting 4x range.

by J Bar on June 09, 2009 at 09:13 AM

Repeats of Scrubs start next week Beckala. Looks like Desperate Housewives is catching up to Sea Patrol and Good News Week not too shabby either. Jonathan Ross Show looks like a flop. Seven need to move 30 Rock to 10.30 or lose that audience they had built up for Boston Legal.

by J Bar on June 09, 2009 at 09:45 AM

J Bar asks: "Does the government provide funding for the indigenous NITV channel on 40?"
Hmmmm, er, what do you think?
Who else do you think would fund indigenous broadcasting except the long suffering Australian taxpayer?

by Sebastian on June 09, 2009 at 09:58 AM

Still no new Scrubs here in the regions. Ballet Shoes was a favourite book of mine too Beckala!! I read it so much that I wore it out. The movie was surprisingly good, loved Victoria Wood, and the girls were great. (Petrova is also in The Sarah Jane Adventures) I took ballet lessons too when I was small though it was very different from their school, but we did wear various outfits for all the classes!! They changed the story a little for TV closure I think but I wasn't upset by it.

by 2paw on June 09, 2009 at 10:20 AM

What did supernatural get last night?

by Mike on June 09, 2009 at 11:31 AM

What may be surprising to most of you (Beckala & 2paw in particular) is that I have never owned a copy of the book Ballet Shoes, that I have never read the book nor have I ever taken ballet lessons!! But, the ABC show was enjoyable in that oldy worldy sort of way. What was interesting was Compass after said Ballet Shoes (recorded it as MrsPJ had to sleep due to working on the public holiday + I did fall asleep half way through, mainly due to a beautiful long seafood lunch, but I digress) on the Qur-arn (spelling??). Compass always amazes me with it's broad look at religion & more often just about faith.
So do we lose Jo only to have Rose back?? his series of Spooks is getting better & better each week, the tension sure does mount.

by PJ453 on June 09, 2009 at 12:13 PM

How did Good News Week do last night? I had to sit through the tail end while I was waiting for Supernatural and wonder how much of an audience it has.

by Yuri on June 09, 2009 at 01:17 PM

Scrubs finale just great. Loved it! Not a dry eye in the house. Let's hope that rumours aren't true and they won't bring it back with different characters. Let a good thing die with dignity for once.

by em on June 09, 2009 at 01:33 PM

I echo other commenters in liking the Scrubs finale. Well made finish to the 8th season.

by arthur on June 09, 2009 at 03:35 PM

Saw Media Watch last night who did a report on the Chaser (yes - last week, but MW was this week!). Very sensible argument about pushing the boundaries and others are there to reign them in. But here's the real outrage - it wasn't even an original sketch. It was a complete ripoff of a skit on "The Mansion, on Foxtel's Comedy Channel....
From the MW transcript - "The Mansion, on Foxtel's Comedy Channel...., made essentially the same joke about the same subject last year. 'No trip to Disneyland for you, kid, but 50% off your next set of prints from Photo Plus...'"
They are not even original anymore!

by Tim on June 09, 2009 at 03:57 PM

I've just become a fan of Good News Week but it really suffers if the mix of guests isn't right. Whose stupid idea was it to put a politician on? Bob Browne was wooden and totally out of place. Corinne Grant and David Campbell were just embarrassing. Compare it to last week with Wil Anderson and Kelly Clarkson. That was hysterically funny. I think I'll have to test the show for 10 minutes every Monday before I commit.

by Rupert on June 09, 2009 at 04:23 PM

Email from Richard Features, Executive in Charge of saving Channel Nine from the Crapper, to Gordon Ramsey former lead singer for WaWaNee circa 1985 now The Worlds Greatest Blonde Chef, dated June 1, 2009:
Hey, Gordo. Baby. How are they hangin'? Like a horse I bet! LOL. Because you're exceptionally manly, aren't you ? Yes you are. Yes you are.
Anyway, just wanted to apologise for the delay in the script for your upcoming visit to Oz. I'll forward it later today but just to give you some idea, er how can I say this, your shows are rating like test patterns down here lately so we've come up with something controversial. Offensive! At your first appearance we'd like you to say something really off, like, oh I dunno maybe: "F**k f**k f**k Tracey Grimshaw's a f**king %%$# f**k pig-faced woman f**king s**t %#$# gay maybe f**king s**t %$## and finish off with a light dusting of icing sugar".... How does that sound? I've cleared it with Tracey and she's in hysterics as we speak. Rolling on the floor. She'll make some straight-faced reply a few days later and all hell will break loose. We've leaked contact details for your former mistress to Channel Seven and they'll fall for it hook line and sinker believe me because all they've got going at the moment is a blind guy on 'Dancing With the Stars'. In the meantime, do your best to offend everyone you see like when you go on 'Rove' make fun of his height, his fingers, his carpet...you know, everything. You WILL look like a tourette's sufferer having a mid-life crisis but all things going well, 'Ramsey's Kitchen' will be popular again and in conjunction with our other GREAT shows 'Home Made' (where we give stuff away to random strangers) and 'Random Acts of Kindness' (where we give stuff away to random strangers), we should be back on top by the second week in June and those channel Seven bastards can rot in hell. Or in Hell's Kitchen'! Eh? Eh? LOL I kill me.
Sincerely yours, Richard Features, Genius.

by darren on June 10, 2009 at 08:27 AM

It seems like I'm the only one not enjoying the last few episodes of Scrubs. This is one of my favourite shows of all time and one of the rare series I actually paid money for to own on DVD but I do think it's been going too long. The characters have become stereotypes of themselves and it seems to go more for the cliched slapstick than the heart these days. Elliot's character in particular has been absolutely destroyed this season.
It will be sad to see it go though. For adorable nerd heroes and wacky hijinks, at least I can take comfort that I still have Chuck.

by genfie on June 10, 2009 at 09:15 AM

re Darren @ 8.27am
he he he (or as my kids would say -lol)

by Suze on June 10, 2009 at 10:12 AM

totally agree david! i wanted to see the interview and the 2 replys from tracey!! i had to watch the morning show to see it

by ryan on June 10, 2009 at 10:16 AM

darren, as always - love your work!
I am definitely looking forward to Spicks and Specks tonight - 50s special. They have been really great lately - just all of the guests (with the exception of the painfully dull Sylvia Palladino) have been hilarious, the games are always fun - it's gone from 'oh, I guess that'll do' to 'quick, it's time to change the channel, I don't care if I miss the last five mins of the Simpsons' in our household!
Speaking of the above, also wanted to give honourable mentions to 'Talkin' 'Bout Your Generation'. I really enjoyed last nights episode. I like the mix of the games, the guests were pretty good, Shaun is as always hilarious. So at least there are a few high points on the schedule. Tuesday used to be a really really dull night but i'm loving it now thanks to ten. I'll offer credit where it's due - i'm really liking the show! Just wish there was an equally entertaining show at 8:30pm - in desperation, caught myself watching 2 1/2 men - I really don't get why so many people say it's "so so funny" - lots of my workmates are big fans and I can't understand why. Oh well, takes all types! Can't believe also that Charlie Sheen gets nominated for that role - he looks like he is sleepwalking through it most of the time...

by Beckala on June 10, 2009 at 10:25 AM

Re Tim on June 09:: I believe The Onion did a "Make a Reasonable Wish Foundation" skit as well. (Discussing it with friends of mine on Friday night, they'd heard The Onion's version on the radio.) Nothing is new.
I though Media Watch did an excellent overview of it all. (Especially since I missed all the original brouhaha, and was wondering what you were all on about last week.)
I did enjoy "Ballet Shoes", I have vague memories of enjoying the book as a child. And I liked the First Tuesday special last night on cads and bounders, lots of fun talk and some interesting ideas.
About to go and commit seppuku for forgetting the final Scrubs was this week, just to top off misremembering the time for Flight of the Conchords, and turning on the TV in time to catch the World News instead. D'oh. (Not that SBS World News isn't good, it's just missing that Kiwi accent.)

by tqd on June 10, 2009 at 10:51 AM

"Why inflict Ramsay on Melbourne alone?" said the headline on June 1.
------------------------------------
Surely you don't want Ramsey inflicted elsewhere throughout the Nation?
Besides, it's almost like some sort of divinely inspired retribution for Melbourne as the epicentre of the local Swine flu outbreak, that Ramsey is making them suffer... Ad Tracey to the mix and that's a three pronged attack of suffering for our southern capital.
They're "arty" - they can take it.

by Steve C on June 10, 2009 at 12:26 PM

Last week it was the Chaser outrage with people humphing left, right and centre, this week it's Gordo v Trace - god, am I still in high school? Beam me up, Scottie. Yay, got the 9's so I'm right.

by Shoopie on June 10, 2009 at 12:53 PM

Jonathan Ross was mean mean mean to Andrew Sachs aka Manuel from Fawlty Towers recently. Nobody messes with Manuel and doesn't take a popularity hit. Fawlty Towers is still a much beloved sitcom (except when screenings of it are hosted by Mark Mitchell *shudder*) and that's primarily why I won't be watching the poor replacement for BL. And apart from that, the show is shite.
Missed TBYG last night, but Mr Skerrick raced home to DVR it, bless his cotton socks. Masters Almost 8 and Almost 5 love it as well, it's good family viewing - like a board game on TV.

by Bereft Skerrick on June 10, 2009 at 01:09 PM

Interesting that someone mentioned a possible merger of NITV and SBS. I have always wondered why the government pours so much money into running two separate national broadcasters with ABC & SBS. I know that the federal government originally wanted SBS to be part of the ABC but decided to create a separate entity when the ABC didn't want to be involved. Sometime down the track, they regretted that decision and many wished that SBS had been part of ABC, while many are still calling for a merger today. Wouldn't it save the government a lot of money if ABC and SBS were merged and their resources were shared? What about community television stations like TVS? They receive government funds too, don't they? How about merging NITV and TVS with SBS and having them broadcast as SBS3 and SBS4?

by Anastasia on June 10, 2009 at 03:10 PM

'Spicks and Specks' was great last night. It's so consistent you sometimes don't notice how effortlessly good it is. That's what it is. Good.
That Tracy Ullman thing was the perfect replacement for 'The Chaser'. Bland. Unfunny. Stupid. Weak. Just what Australia wants. Needs.
When (if) 'The Chaser' comes back, they should have a whole show dedicated to dull insularity. Why did the Chicken cross the road jokes. A round-the-fire reading from one of Kochie's esteemed publications. A skit celebrating the efforts of Australian servicemen and women. A McDonalds ad type segment proclaiming their unsarcastic non-offensive love for all sick and suffering children. Just half an hour of nothing. And dedicate it to the memory of Amanda Duthie.
Like 'Australia's Funniest Home Videos' on Valium (and apologies to people struggling daily with addiction prescription drugs).
Maybe we should have a National Sorry Day. Just so everyone can say sorry. For everything.
Sorry.

by darren on June 11, 2009 at 06:00 AM

Spicks and Specks was great last night. TGYH ruined by Kate Langbroek - I hate it when she is on there, she is really not funny.
I've been watching MasterChef off and on over the past few weeks, but it's one of those shows that I don't watch properly, because i'm usually cooking dinner at the same time. But last night, dinner was running a little late, so I was on the couch, watching the opening credits. Dear god, I never realised how cringeworthy that was! They have the contestants doing some of the most stupid things! And the fake "smiles" or fake "tough" looks (Chris does a shockingly bad one)... eewwwww! Not sure if i'm the only one who has noticed this, but if you haven't paid attention to it, you should for a bit of a chuckle!

by Beckala on June 11, 2009 at 07:10 AM

Regarding 'When (if) 'The Chaser' comes back, they should have a whole show dedicated to dull insularity. Why did the Chicken cross the road jokes. A round-the-fire reading from one of Kochie's esteemed publications. A skit celebrating the efforts of Australian servicemen and women. A McDonalds ad type segment proclaiming their unsarcastic non-offensive love for all sick and suffering children. Just half an hour of nothing. And dedicate it to the memory of Amanda Duthie.'

Didnt we already have 'Hey Hey it's Saturday'?

by Andrew on June 11, 2009 at 07:39 AM

darren, I wonder if the Chaser will be asked to postscript every joke with an apology to anybody that might have been offended? If you don't find that funny, then I'm sorry about that.

by J Bar on June 11, 2009 at 08:23 AM

JBar I'm offended at the suggestion that Australians are so easily led that everything needs to be explained and apologised for to the point of ridiculousness. I apologise for giving my opinion, indeed for having an opinion at all and I furthermore apologise for apologising to you in case you feel I shouldn't have apologised and are offended by my apology. I can be very offensive like that. Sorry.

by darren on June 11, 2009 at 08:44 AM

I am astounded that our Prime Minister continues to weigh in with his comments about incidents in media culture. Last week he felt the need to comment on The Chaser, this week he gushes forth about a not-so-subtle publicity stunt between a fading controversial chef and a washed up sensationalist "journalist".
On the subject of Masterchef, well, I enjoy it. But someone, somewhere needs to take a very large axe to the habit of the recap. I notice that almost half the time dedicated to the program is filled with recaps of what happened two minutes ago. Every time they return from the commercial break, they feel the need to tell us what happened just before the break. Please, we are not goldfish - our memory span is a little longer than that. It makes me want to throw croquembouche at the screen every time they do it!!

by cronker on June 11, 2009 at 09:44 AM

Darren, are you the Hecker today?
Hehehe

by Shoopie on June 11, 2009 at 09:50 AM

TGYH was ok last night but I don't like that Kate woman. She isn't funny. That's the thing about TGYH sometimes it's great and other times falls flat depending on the guests.
Cronker, I too, notice that the Masterchef recaps can be quite annoying. And the other thing that frustrates me is this need by the judges to pause for dramatic effect every time there is some major announcement. Like, and .......the...winner....of... tonights challenge.......is....................the Red Team. Why do reality TV shows think this strings out the drama when all it really does is annoy the heck out of viewers.
I really don't know why I watch Masterchef other than the fact there is nothing else on at that time and "because it's there." Certainly not because it's great television. More like rubbernecking when you see an accident. You really know you shouldn't look but can't help it!

by em on June 11, 2009 at 10:07 AM

Fair shake of the sauce bottle cronker! You've got to realise that the editing gibbons for Masterchef are the same as for The Biggest Longest Winded Loser! Strewth!

by Bereft Skerrick on June 11, 2009 at 10:29 AM

Have to concur with everybody that it was another great Spicks & Specks last night, they seem to do it so effortlessly. Tracy Ullman was just like the The Chaser really hit & miss......so where did viewers go? Were they offended somewhere else??
If the "offended" get their way one of The Chaser team will have to walk in front of the sketch with a red flag warning everybody that the sketch following will not only be dangerous but probably going to be offensive. It always astounds me how people go off about something on television being offensive, bloody hell your'e not forced to watch it, if you think your'e going to be offended then DON'T WATCH IT!!! And as for Amanda Duthie becoming the ABC's scapegoat for an "error of judgement", couldn't all the our politicians be also sacked due to one "error of judgement."????
I give up...........

by PJ453 on June 11, 2009 at 11:24 AM

Now you mention it Beckala, Aaron dripping re-constituted peas in a bowl of water is my favourite un-favourite althogh Kate licking her finger comes a close second (she licks her fingers weird). The ads and billboards for that show have been awful as well but I still quite like the show itself, recaps notwithstanding.
Unintentionally entertaining segments of crap programs are useful for fighting off the feeling that life is full of Tracys and Gordons and pointless to boot. For example I often watch the beginning of 'Law and Order SVU' just for that shot with the streetlight between the buildings from a helicopter's perspective. It's deliciously disorientating. Distracting. Then I turn it off.
Another handy hint is to record garbage and then play it back with the DVD player on 'slow play' and it's like everyone's stoned. Fun!
We'll all need these little tricks when Steve Fielding fixes the Interweb and K Rudd fixes the tellie so that all we have to entertain us are sock puppets and toy sausage dogs made from toilet rolls and pipe-cleaners. Sorry, that sould be Dachsunds. Members of the Society for the Rights of Elongated Dogs put down your keyboards!
And Andrew @07:39 am : Ixnay on the Eyhay Eyhay its Aturdaysay. Please.

by darren on June 11, 2009 at 11:26 AM

Shoopie, no, different darren, same bonnet bees. Me not that good completing sentences coherent enough Hecker.

by darren on June 11, 2009 at 12:26 PM

Does Foxtel own the rights to "The Colbert Report" as well as "The Daily Show"? Dagnabbit, why should folks who would appreciate these shows have to fork out money because the FTA channels can't see beyond the next commercial break.
S&S wasn't too bad last night, but TBMG has definitely roped in a Boomer. Haven't paid more than passing (ie channel hopping) attention to TGYAH this time round. Like all panel shows, it is the guests that make or break.
Just wish that the first mentioned shows were actually part of the anti trust embargo or whatever it is called, but that is limited to certain "national sporting" events. AH well, shall just have to make do with my daily dose of the Daily show in a 360 x 270 pixel screen..... guess I could set puter screen resolution to 800 x640.... but *shudder* what a waste of real estate.
Hope you'll have a gander at "the Ascent of Money"... proving to be an extremely interesting series as opposed to that wa**er on SBS who put up 500,000 quid before the stock market crash and expected of-the-streeters to make him (and themselves) money.

by Furlozza on June 11, 2009 at 04:57 PM

PJ453 now that Amanda Duthie has been dealt with the same should apply to whoever it is at Seven, Ten and Nine who approved the endless replaying of the skit to pad out their news bulletins for the last two weeks, after the ABC removed it from all their repeat broadcasts and online material practically straight away.
Does it become less offensive the more you show it?
Who gets the shaft at Nine for 'The Footy Show's' endless series of offensive jokes? Who falls on their sword for Sandra Sully's wardrobe? What about using a blind guy in a dancing show for his 'freak' appeal while thinly disguising it as 'inspirational'?
No doubt the high moral standards that have possessed the nation the last few weeks will have many heads rolling because everyone plays by the same rules, don't they? Don't they?

by darren on June 12, 2009 at 08:40 AM

It's ridiculous that the programs following the evening news even suggest that they are a current affairs program when they devote so much time to a celebrity feud between Tracey and Gordon. While at the gym last night, I happened to notice that both ACA and TT were running stories on the children of celebrities hoping to launch a singing career at the same time. What do the kids of John Singleton and Don Lane trying have to do with current affairs? They are now just magazine shows, at best. How about just changing the titles of the shows to 'New Idea Tonight' and 'Current Woman's Day' and be done with it?

by J Bar on June 12, 2009 at 08:57 AM

Is the writing supposed to be in bold now?

Tribal Mind asks: What writing?

by cpandilo on June 12, 2009 at 09:57 AM

Oh... the recap! I could write a thesis about the recap. Survivor in the last weeks as the contestants dwindle set the benchmark. Biggest Loser took it the next level... (no offense intended to the overweight)
All fatties in the weigh-in room.
Ajay: Hello
RECAP - Fatty 1: We were called to the weigh-in this morning. And Ajay said Hello - I knew then that the game was going to change forever.
Ajay: contestants
RECAP - Fatty 2: Ajay then dropped a bombshell by referring to us as contestants. My position as Alpha male was seriously under threat.
Ajay: We are now going to have a weigh-in
RECAP - Fatty 3: Then Ajay told us we were going to have a weigh-in. I have never been so nervous in my life. Stepping on the scales was going to be the hardest thing I have ever done. I worked hard this week, but was it enough...

MasterChef does it but I am yet to find it as annoying as BL. But wait till the number of contestants gets below 5. Then we'll see if the producers really want to push the recap envelope.

by Tim on June 12, 2009 at 10:26 AM

I saw my recording of Prison Break and it was awesome action as per usual. Pity it gets even worse ratings than Lost did.

by arthur on June 12, 2009 at 11:01 AM

J Bar, we could also ad 60 minutes to that category. They only seem to have one current affairs type story per program with the rest of the 60 mins padded out with some stupid celebrity story and some other fluff piece or feel good type thing.
I have to wonder if it isn't the average viewers fault. I mean, people these days seem to be more interested in Paris Hilton's latest antics than the war in Iraq or any other real story. We do after all live in a society that makes celebritys out of people who have done nothing , have no talent and are basically pretty useless but somehow manage to get themselves in the news (Corey whatshisname a prime example) So the media gives us what we want. Lots of stories about nothing and people who without the internet would never even get 15mins of fame, ever. We get what we deserve. Those of us with a brain and a real interest in the world around us have to seek our information other ways, (like this fine forum). I would love to see more hard hitting current affairs programs but I won't be holding my breath.
Oh, and one other comment. That blasted Karl Stevanovic is Nine's latest Eddie Everwhere. Not only does he pop up on 60 mins , I saw an ad yesterday for him on that new touchy/feely show "Random acts of Kindness." Enough is enough already!!!

by em on June 12, 2009 at 11:13 AM

'Random Act of Kindness' as a telly show? As Ja'mie King would say: That's just soooo random!

by J Bar on June 12, 2009 at 11:48 AM

Quoth by darren on June 12, 2009 at 08:40 AM: "Does it become less offensive the more you show it?"
If you show it with a suitable amount of extreme *outrage*, then, no, it's not offensive. I must admit, I'm finding the extreme *outrage* over this skit has been quite over-the-top. I think ACA/TT are having far too much fun, taking the tall poppies (who poked fun at them) down a notch or ten. I just wish they'd give it a break already, it all seems to have been blown completely out of proportion.
And am I the only one gagging at the concept of a "Random Act of Kindness" TV show? Please tell me it's not true...

by tqd on June 12, 2009 at 03:36 PM

I agree with em. Haven't we seen enough of Karl Stefa no wit? The Today Show has improved vastly since he has been "on assiognment" and he'll be the reason I WON'T be watching the new show.

by rufus on June 12, 2009 at 06:02 PM

Is it too much to ask that someone, somewhere performs a random act of kindness for me and takes Karl Stuffasumthin out?

by Shoopie on June 12, 2009 at 06:59 PM

TM, re: my question from yesterday, when you posted Thursdays ratings yesterday, the whole page was in bold text for a short while.
Melbournites sure like their classic boxing as well as a sizable audience for live baseball. But they dont seen to like drag racing nearly as much.

by cpandilo on June 13, 2009 at 12:19 PM

Channel Nein's best and most Random Act of Kindness would be to dump this trash in the bin before expecting their viewers to suffer through it.

by cronker on June 13, 2009 at 01:01 PM

If STV is going to make the claims it does, shouldn't its programming be included in the daily rankings alongside the FTA offerings? Perhaps get some mathematician orsimilar boffin to weight their numbers because they aren't available in as many homes as FTA if that is a sticking point? BTW, I love STV and have had it continuously since 1995.

by Yuri on June 15, 2009 at 10:11 AM

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